Named one of MovieMaker Magazines “25 Coolest Film Festivals,” The Big Apple Film Festival, hosted by The Big Apple Film Society, is not just another congregation of independent artists in NYC. When founder and filmmaker, Jonathan Marc Lipp, first launched the event, it was because in his mind, there were not enough festivals with accessibility for…
Known as the Montreal Festival of New Cinema and New Media (FCMM) until 2004, this independent film festival has gone through years of change and development. Forty years of change that is, as this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Festival du Nouveau Cinema as it is called today. Developments such as embracing innovative new media…
During my time as an undergraduate in college, I used my skills as a photographer to garner extra revenue whenever possible. This revenue would flow back into my main area of expertise and passion, film. The skill set of a photographer is quite invaluable on a film set. A creative eye for positioning, shot placement, lighting,…
Iconic gin brand Bombay Sapphire has launched the ‘Imagination Series’ in association with the Tribeca Film Festival, a global film competition offering budding filmmakers the chance to make their own short film with imagination at its heart. In partnership with Oscar-Winning Screen Writer, Geoffrey Fletcher (“Precious”), the global competition will be based on a specially…
San Francisco, a world-renowned city for tourists is now the destination for the independent filmmaker. Every July, San Francisco hosts the Frozen Film Festival. Talented individuals from all over the world gather in the Bay Area to exhibit their creations; more importantly, to bond as a community. Founded in 2006, this nonprofit organization strives to be…
Ruan Lotter runs a YouTube channel called Tunnelviziontv which contains a number of interesting tutorials, product tests, and other stuff of interest to indie filmmakers. Here’s a great tutorial on faking a car crash in After Effects:
Looking around the landscape of professional comedy writers, one will find that a major breeding ground is The Harvard Lampoon. Writers like Conan O’Brien and B.J. Novak got their start from the prestigious university paper, and the hooks up coming out of their tight circle are extraordinary. But, before you get discouraged, know there are many other avenues to…
There is probably no more reviled filming technique than the “shaky cam”, or the vomit cam as it is derisively referred to by those that it sends running from the movie theaters with hands pressed over mouth. The fact is that shaky cam is a valid filming technique, but one that should be used in moderation. This…
Ruan Lotter runs a YouTube channel called Tunnelviziontv which contains a number of interesting tutorials, product tests, and other stuff of interest to indie filmmakers. Here’s a great tutorial on dialogue editing to start:
Horror effects can make or break your horror film. But you do not have to blow your budget to get good effects for your film. The internet is just brimming with frugal horror effects tips. I have compiled some of the best ones below so you can take advantage of them for your own film….
